Lattimore signs restricted tender with Packers

Apr. 30, 2014

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Linebacker Jamari Lattimore signed his restricted tender with the Packers on Wednesday, according to the NFL transaction report.

The Packers extended him a tender that carried right of first refusal worth $1.4 million before the start of free agency.

The third-year reserve linebacker and special-teams mainstay first signed with the Packers in 2011 as an undrafted free agent out of Middle Tennessee State for a $5,000 signing bonus.

The 25-year-old saw his most playing time in 2014 due to a myriad of injuries at inside linebacker. He had 35 tackles and two sacks in 15 games with four starts in place of starter Brad Jones.

The Packers could very well select an inside linebacker in the early rounds of next week's draft, but Lattimore should still figure into the battle for a starting spot. He was aggressive when called upon and serviceable in only his second year playing the inside spot.

Lattimore was still free to negotiate with other NFL teams after the Packers tendered him the lowest restricted contract last month. Prior to him signing, the deadline to sign an offer sheet elsewhere was Friday.